Educational game

ABSTRACT

A game system including a large container, and a plurality of small containers. The game system further including figurines reflecting different types of animals, said game system including a player attempting to match up the various animals after drawing them from the large container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/044,371 filed Jan. 10, 2002.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This invention relates to a matching game and, more particularly,to a matching game that centers around the biblical story of Noah's Ark.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Games provide a very important educational development purposefor children. More specifically, games are used to educate children withrespect to certain historical, religious, and/or current events. Stillfurther, games can be utilized to educate children as to the environmentthat surrounds them. Games also are utilized to intellectually challengechildren to teach them basic recognizance, matching, and countingskills. As is apparent, a game must not only have the ability to teachsuch skills, but also must have the ability to maintain a child'sinterest by being entertaining and fun to play.

[0005] Therefore, a game is needed which accomplishes the goalsdiscussed above, while at the same time being capable of maintaining achild's interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea game which is educational.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a gamein which children are taught to recognize animals of all shapes, sizesand colors.

[0008] It is a still further object of the present invention to providea game which teaches children about a biblical event.

[0009] It is a still further object of the present invention to teachchildren the fundamentals of “game playing.”

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to teach children theart of competing against one another in a game-playing situation.

[0011] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of theinvention will be set forth in part in a description which follows andin part will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponexamination of the following, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

[0012] These and other objectives are accomplished by a game systemincluding a hollow container and a plurality of small containers. Thegame system further includes a plurality of pairs of game pieces,wherein each pair of game pieces depicts a different type of animal.Each game piece is placed in a small container which is thereafterplaced in the larger container. Players withdraw the smaller containersfrom the larger container in an attempt to mate pairs of the gamepieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In the accompanying drawings which form a part of thespecification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in whichlike reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the variousviews:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a hollow container accordingto the present invention and in the shape of an ark;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a smaller figurine containerof the present invention, the figurine container in the shape of a cargobox with an open bar depiction on one side; and

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of figurines according to thepresent invention and for a Noah's Ark version of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The preferred embodiment of the present invention centers aroundNoah's Ark and is based upon the story of the Great Flood, as reflectedin the Old Testament of the Bible. During the story of the Great Flood,animals of all shapes, sizes and colors were boarded onto an ark to besaved from the flood waters. All other species were eliminated by theflood. The biblical story revolves around Noah collecting a pair of eachanimal on earth, and thereafter boarding the animals in pairs onto theark so that they could be saved from drowning. After the flood, theanimals were freed from the ark to thereafter repopulate the earth.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of this gameincludes one large plastic hollow container 10, in the shape of an ark.As is apparent, the container need not necessarily be in the shape of anark, but can be in the shape of any other suitable symbolic structure orfigure, and need not necessarily be made of plastic. Ark 10 in FIG. 1can have a hinged roof which allows storage of game pieces as will befurther described below. With reference to FIG. 3, the game furtherincludes at least twenty-four pairs of game pieces 12 reflecting variousfigures associated with the game, preferably in the shape of animals.For instance, as shown in FIG. 3, there may be a pair of giraffes,camels, and/or elephants, etc. These pairs of game pieces can be made ofany suitable material, for instance, injection molded plastic. Stillfurther, the game pieces include at least two pairs of wild tokens 14.Each pair of wild tokens can represent a figure associated with theevent to be learned about. For instance, with reference to FIG. 3, thetokens can be a pair of Noah depictions, or a pair of dove depictions.Still further, with reference to FIG. 2, the game pieces can include 52small containers 16, preferably in the shape of a cargo box. Morespecifically, such boxes preferably are completely enclosed except forone side which has a vertical bar configuration 18 to allow viewing ofthe interior of the box, thus representing a cage. The boxes allowviewing into the interior without having other players of the game seethe interior. The games pieces 12 also preferably include a legend card(not shown) with pictures of each animal in alphabetical order on oneside and directions of how to play the game on the other side.

[0019] The game is preferably designed for children ages 4 to 7, but maybe suitable for many other ages. In general, the preferred rules of thegame are as follows:

[0020] 1. Each animal 12 and wild token 14 is placed in a cargo box 16.The purpose of the cargo box 16 is to allow for random selection of ananimal 12 from the large ark 10. Once filled with an animal or wildtoken, the cargo boxes are placed inside the large hollow ark. Animalsremain in their cargo box until the mate is found. As discussed above,the cargo box is closed on all sides except one where vertical bars 18allow the player to see into the cargo to identify the animal. Thisdesign allows a player to place the cargo box with the “open side”facing him/her so he/she can see the identity of the animal in the cargobox while at the same time hiding the identify of the animal fromopposing players.

[0021] 2. To determine who goes first, each player picks a cargo box outof the large ark. The player with the animal whose name begins closestto the letter “A” begins the game. (The animal legend can be consultedfor an alphabetical listing of animals). Each player keeps the firstanimal selected as the first of the six animals each player will startthe game with.

[0022] 3. Each player, beginning with who is selected to go first, picksfive additional cargo boxes out of the large ark. The player to theright of the first player goes next and so on. As the next five cargoboxes are picked by each player, the players should place their cargoboxes in front of them, being very careful not to show their opponentswhich animals were randomly selected.

[0023] 4. The first player chooses an opponent and asks the opponent ifhe/she has an animal that will form a pair with one of the animals inthe cargo boxes he possesses. If the opponent has the animal, theopponent must surrender the animals (in the cargo box) to the firstplayer. The first player must then display the pair of animals. The pairis taken out of the cargo boxes and displayed near the player whopossesses the pair.

[0024] 5. If the opponent does not have the requested animal, the firstplayer will randomly pull a cargo box from the large ark. If the playerpulls the pair to the animal he requested, then the first layer mustdisplay the pair.

[0025] 6. The first player is allowed to continue as long as either (a)his/her request results in pairing an animal with one he/she possesses,or (b) his/her random draw results in a pair.

[0026] 7. If the first player does not create a pair with his/herrequest and/or resulting draw, then the next player gets his/her turnfollowing the rules established in #4, #5 and #6 above.

[0027] 8. The wild tokens can be paired with any animal.

[0028] 9. The first player of the four players to collect seven pairswins the game. If three players compete, the first player to collect tenpairs wins the game. If two players compete, the first player to collect14 pairs wins the game.

[0029] 10. Advanced Rule: For older children or children that havemastered the above rules, the game can be played whereby wild tokenshave extra value if they are paired with the second wild token of itstype. For example, if the two Noahs are paired, the pair is worth fourpairs. The same applies to the pairing of the doves. Additionally, ifthe Noah and a dove are paired, the pair is worth three pairs.

[0030] As is apparent, the above game teaches children the ability torecognize animals of all shapes, sizes and colors because of thematching aspect of the game. Still further, the child is taught how tocompete against other children, and the strategy of asking appropriatequestions of various players in order to attempt to win the game.Additionally, it may be possible to utilize cards to depict the animals,instead of the animal figurines described above. This provision wouldallow for a travel version, and would also not have the necessity of ahollow ark playing piece. Still further, in such a card version, thecards could reflect interesting educational facts about the animal.

[0031] A computer readable medium version is contemplated wherein aplayer may have the ability to play against the computer or otherplayers. In addition to the animals of Noah's Ark, other possibleadditions of the game are contemplated. For instance, below is a list ofthe potential animals and wild tokens for the Noah's Ark Edition. Alsobelow is an additional Canine Edition, Ocean Edition, and EndangeredSpecies Edition. Other possible editions include insects, dinosaurs, andbirds. Original Noah's Ark Giraffe Elephant Camel Wild Tokens: ZebraHippopotamus Monkey Dove Lion Gorilla Ostrich Noah Rhinoceros TigerAnteater Cow Sheep Donkey Horse Pig Fox Chicken Goose Beaver Goat DeerRabbit Canine Edition Collie German Shepherd St. Bernard Wild Tokens:Greyhound Dalmatian Poodle Dog Catcher Boxer Labrador Basset Hound BoneDachshund Rottweiler Pomeranian Great Dane Weimaraner Pekingese Shih ZuTerrier Bulldog Cocker Spaniel Beagle Sheep Dog Chihuahua GoldenRetriever Husky Ocean Edition Blowfish Octopus Hammerhead Shark WildTokens: Dolphin Starfish Clam Mermaid Eel Snail Jellyfish Pirate LobsterStingray Sea Horse Anemone Walrus Humpback Whale Seal Sea TurtleSwordfish Squid Man-o-War Great White Shark Killer Whale Coral CrabEndangered Species Edition Bat Caribou Jaguar Wild Tokens: KangarooManatee Otter Forest Ranger Grizzly Bear Seal Albatross Coast GuardsmanBald Eagle Pelican Alligator Sturgeon Bighorn Sheep Squirrel Gray WolfCrane Sea Lion Mallard Duck Owl Stork Woodpecker Iguana Gecko

[0032] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is onewell adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

[0033] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinationsare of utility and may be employed without reference to other featuresand subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope ofthe claims.

[0034] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the inventionwithout departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood thatall matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a matching game, including a plurality of pairs of figurine game pieces, each pair of figurine game pieces depicting a different type of animal, comprising: positioning the figurine game pieces randomly at a single location; allowing each player to choose one figurine game piece from the location while concealing the identity of the animal depicted on the figurine game piece from the other players; allowing each player to pick an opponent player and query whether that opponent player has a match for the animal depicted on the first player's figurine game piece; and determining a winner of the game by a player obtaining a set number of pairs of matching figurine game pieces.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said animals reflect the animals of Noah's Ark.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said game pieces reflect one of canine breeds, seal life, endangered species, insects, dinosaurs, and birds.
 4. The method of claim 1, further including wild game pieces which allow the making of a pair with any other game piece. 